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Luis Isaias, entrepreneur and keen sport fisherman, has played an important part in some truly inspiring fishing stories where great catches were made and tournaments were won. Here, we look at the history of his family and share the details of some of his best sport fishing successes to date.
What is sport fishing?
Sport fishing is a hobby that requires a lot of skill. During tournaments, individuals compete against each other to see who can catch the highest number of a range of different fish, predominantly from a boat as these competitions often take place in the sea. Sport fishing tournaments sometimes require competitors to be in a team, which was the case in Luis Isaias’ two most noteworthy experiences. Points are rewarded for every fish that’s caught, and scores are calculated based on the weight of the fish and their species where applicable.
There are a whole range of skills required in order to be a successful sport fisherman. Being able to read the water to see where your next catch might be, casting accurately to ensure that you don’t miss it, and making sure that you can select the right hook and tie knots are all skills that those taking part in sport fishing need. Plus, you need to be stealthy enough to ensure that you don’t scare your potential catches away. Boasting all of these traits, Luis Isaias was always bound to find success through competing in fishing tournaments himself, and here we look at two highlights of his sport fishing history.
The 42nd USVI Open Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament
One of Luis Isaias’ biggest fishing achievements was being part of the team that released an impressive seven blue marlin in one day at the Held off of the British Virgin Island of Anegada, this tournament consisted of 22 boats fishing over four consecutive days, one of which was the 68’ Paul Mann boat that Luis was aboard – Jichi. The Jichi’s team of anglers were all Florida and Miami based, and consisted of Luis Isaias, Albert Castro, Ricky Querejeta, and Paul Mann – the boat’s builder. By the end of the tournament’s first day they were in the lead thanks to a total of seven releases – a fantastic number by any standard.
The day had a strong start with the Jichi team releasing five blue marlin before noon. This then slowed down until around 4pm with very little activity, but then two more were released – one just six minutes before the end of the first day. Of the seven blue marlin released, one was caught on pitch baits, while the other six were caught through trolling a variety of colours of lures. Due to releasing three of the blue marlin, Querejeta went into the lead for Top Angler, and the whole team attributed their success to working well together and having fun. On the second day of the tournament there were no fish released by the Jichi team, but they kept their lead thanks to their success the previous day.
On day three, the team aboard a boat named Reel Affair had taken the lead by noon, and by the end of day four they had released a total of13 blue marlin whereas Jichi had released a total of 11, meaning that Luis Isaias and his team mates finished the tournament in 2nd place. However, this did not take away from their outstanding first day and the number of fish they released then. Over the course of the tournament, an impressive 99 blue marlin were released by the 22-strong fleet.
The Islamorada Swordfish Tournament
Another of Luis Isaias’ fishing successes came in the 2009 Islamorada Swordfish Tournament, where the Jichi team came first for the 2nd year in a row. Led by Captain Ricky Linder, the team consisted of Luis Isaias, Albert Castro, Javier Gonzalez, and Jimmy David, and the sea was described as being flat and calm. Over the tournament’s two nights, the team all caught and released at least one swordfish, with a total of 6 overall. This gave them 733 points and the win, with 2nd place trailing behind with just 365 points.
Perhaps the key to this success was the team heading 40 miles south of Islamorada’s landmark Holiday Isle to a spot just off of Marathon, as they had done the previous year. In addition to winning the tournament, the team had the largest catch thanks to Albert Castro’s 233-pounder.
With these fantastic fishing successes to his name, it is easy to understand why Luis Isaias has such a passion for this hobby, and why he was such an important part of the Jichi team out on the water.
Who are the Isaias Dassum family?
Brothers Roberto and William Isaias are Ecuadorian philanthropists and businessmen. Heading up a successful family of investors, the Isaias brothers used their power to offer their support for culture, and to improve the health of the most vulnerable people in their country through charitiable organisations, such as the Isaias Dassum Health Fund.
More about the Isaias Dassum Health Fund
The Isaias Dassum Health Fund is committed to helping thousands of people each year, with a focus on helping the neediest people in Ecuador. The foundation has three headquarters, provides assistance across 30 medical specialties, and offers sophisticated equipment in order to help those who are unable to afford this treatment for themselves. Originally set up by the Isaias brother’s uncle Nahím, Roberto, William, and Estéfano took over the running of the foundation following his death. The family are very committed to helping others, a trait that has been passed down to them throughout generations, and stepping in to support this important cause was only natural for the brothers.
Even since living in the USA, Roberto and William have supported the Isaias Dassum Health Fund, ensuring that they were still providing help to those most in need back in their home country. These days, Luis Isaias, from the next generation of Isaias’, has made a name for himself through his love of fishing and success in a number or different tournaments.
Congratulations on the Quest for the Ring victory Team Jichi!